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Hazard’s father hits out at son’s treatment at Chelsea

Eden Hazard father has blasted Chelsea for making the Belgian star play through injury – but insists there’s no question he wants to leave the club.

The 25-year-old reigning Player of the Year has had a season to forget, having been blighted by poor form and injury. He is yet to score a Premier League goal this season.

In the second half of Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Hazard was booed by some sections of the Chelsea crowd after coming off with an injury.

But his dad, Thierry, has defended his son against criticism and blames the club for contributing towards the player’s poor form.

“Eden’s lack of form is due to an injury, an inflammation in the hip, that he’s been carrying now for three or four months,” he told Belgian newspaper Le Soir. “It’s not a bad injury, but when the pain appears, it feels like a stabbing. It’s feels like a knife is stabbed in it.

“He was feeling the pain early in the game [against Leicester] and that’s why he has asked for a substitution. Instead of giving Eden a time to overcome the injury and have a proper rest, they push him to play because they have some important games… So he has no choice… Which player hasn’t had highs or lows in his career?

“It’s the first time in his professional career that he’s been confronted with a difficult period. He’s not machine, as we know.”

Hazard’s decline in form has led to reports of a summer exit with PSG and Real Madrid understood to be interested.

Last month Hazard admitted it would be difficult to say no to the French champions but Thierry added that his son is not looking to leave.

“Eden has never said he wanted to play for PSG,” said Hazard.

“He’s just confirmed that PSG have become a big club and that every player would like to play for clubs of that level. Eden has a contract until 2020.